Kadifekale, the Velvet Castle, crowns the hill above Izmir on the site of the acropolis founded in the time of Alexander the Great. Its ancient and Ottoman walls enclose ruins, cisterns and a tea garden, and the ramparts offer some of the finest panoramic views over the city and the gulf below. Reached by a short climb or bus, the historic fortress rewards visitors with both a sense of Izmirs deep past and a sweeping vantage point over the modern city.